Let's be real for a second. When you think about the Hitman franchise, your mind probably goes straight to a bald head, a barcode, and a very sharp suit. It’s all about the silent assassin. But the 2015 reboot, Hitman: Agent 47, tried something pretty gutsy. It shifted the emotional weight onto a woman who didn't even know she was a weapon.
If you’ve watched the movie recently, you’ve definitely wondered about the hitman agent 47 actress who shared the screen with Rupert Friend. That would be Hannah Ware. She played Katia van Dees, and honestly, her performance is the only reason that movie has any heartbeat at all. While the critics weren't exactly kind to the film, Ware's portrayal of a woman spiraling into her own superhuman DNA is fascinating if you actually pay attention.
Who is the main Hitman Agent 47 actress?
Hannah Ware wasn't a household name when she landed the lead in the 2015 reboot. She had done some solid work—mostly known for her roles in Boss and the drama Betrayal—but this was her first massive action swing.
In the film, she plays Katia van Dees. On the surface, she's just a woman looking for a man she can't quite remember. But as the plot thickens (or thins, depending on how much you like the script), we find out she’s actually "90." Her name is literally a play on the French word for ninety, Quatre-vingt-dix. Basically, she's a genetically engineered "Agent" who is technically superior to 47 himself.
Ware had to do a lot of heavy lifting. She wasn't just doing "action girl" tropes; she was playing someone with sensory overload. Her character sees things before they happen. She hears everything. It’s a lot of twitchy, nervous energy that eventually hardens into the same cold precision we see in the titular hitman.
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The other voices: Beyond the 2015 movie
You can't talk about the women of this franchise without mentioning the most important one. I’m talking about Diana Burnwood.
In the 2015 movie, Diana was played by Angelababy. It was a brief role, mostly there to establish the ICA connection. But if you’re a gamer, the name Diana Burnwood carries way more weight. She’s the handler. The voice in the ear. The only person 47 actually trusts (mostly).
The Voice Talents of Diana Burnwood
If you're looking for the actress behind the most iconic female role in the entire Hitman universe, you’re looking for Jane Perry. She has been the voice of Diana since the 2016 "World of Assassination" trilogy.
- Jane Perry: The current gold standard. She brought a level of sophisticated, cold elegance that frankly made the games feel like high-end spy thrillers.
- Vivienne McKee: She was the original voice for the early games like Silent Assassin and Blood Money. Fans still debate who did it better.
- Marsha Thomason: She took over for Hitman: Absolution, giving Diana a much more physical, vulnerable presence in that specific storyline.
Honestly, Jane Perry’s work in the recent games—especially in Hitman 3—is award-winning for a reason. She turned a "mission briefing" character into a co-protagonist. When she says "That is [Target Name]," you feel it.
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Why the Katia van Dees character was controversial
Gaming purists kind of lost their minds when the 2015 movie came out. Why? Because the film decided that Agent 47 wasn't the "special" one. Katia was.
The movie reveals that she is 43 versions more advanced than 47. She has "survival instincts" that are basically superpowers. In a franchise known for grounded, albeit heightened, stealth, this felt a bit like a superhero movie wearing a Hitman skin.
But looking back at it now, Hannah Ware’s performance stands up. She did most of her own stunts and trained like a maniac. She watched Thai action films like Chocolate to get the movement right. She wanted Katia to fight differently—more like a gymnast, less like a brawler. It’s a shame we never got a sequel because seeing her and 47 work as a duo of clones would have been a wild ride.
The "Other" Hitman Movie Actress
We can't forget the 2007 Hitman movie starring Timothy Olyphant. That one had Olga Kurylenko.
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She played Nika Boronina. Unlike Katia, Nika wasn't a super-soldier. She was more of a classic "bond girl" archetype—a woman caught in the crossfire who humanizes the assassin. Kurylenko is great, but the character was definitely a product of mid-2000s action cinema. She didn't get the agency that Hannah Ware’s character had.
What happened to Hannah Ware?
After Hitman: Agent 47, people expected Ware to become the next big action star. It didn't quite happen that way. She's been selective.
She starred in the Netflix sci-fi series The One back in 2021, playing a tech CEO. It was a complete 180 from the sweaty, frantic energy of Katia van Dees. She’s still working, but she seems to prefer those psychological, character-driven roles over blockbuster explosions.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're a fan of the franchise or just curious about the actresses who've shaped it, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Watch the 2015 Movie for the Stunts: Even if the story is "kinda" messy, the fight choreography between Hannah Ware and Zachary Quinto is genuinely top-tier.
- Listen to Jane Perry’s Interviews: If you want to see how a voice actress builds a legendary character, Jane Perry has some incredible interviews about her "BAFTA-winning" journey with Diana Burnwood.
- Play the "World of Assassination" Trilogy: This is where the female characters are at their best. Diana isn't just a voice; she’s the architect of the entire plot.
- Check out Hannah Ware in 'The One': If you liked her intensity in Hitman, she brings that same "cold brilliance" to her role as Rebecca Webb on Netflix.
The Hitman series might be named after the guy with the gun, but the women—from Hannah Ware's genetically "perfect" Katia to Jane Perry’s commanding Diana—are the ones who actually keep the story moving. They provide the stakes. Without them, 47 is just a guy with a barcode and a very boring day job.